Thunder's Westbrook signs 5-year, $205M deal

The deal begins with the 2018-19 season, and places Westbrook beneath contract with the Thunder by way of the 2022-23 marketing campaign.

Westbrook displayed his happiness with the brand new deal by posting an image of himself on his Instagram web page. Sporting an orange “OKC” jersey together with his arms raised, Westbrook wrote two phrases:

“WHY NOT??”WHY NOT??

The 28-yr-previous Westbrook is coming off a historic season by which he averaged 31.6 factors, 10.7 rebounds and 10.four assists and set an NBA report with forty two triple-doubles. He broke the mark of Oscar Robertson (1962) and joined the Corridor of Famer as the one gamers to common a triple-double over a whole season.

The six-time All-Star gained his second scoring crown and scored forty or extra factors on 18 events.

Westbrook’s signing comes after Oklahoma Metropolis acquired star forwards Paul George and Carmelo Anthony in trades, strikes that make the workforce a respectable menace to succeed in the Western Convention finals.

The small-market Thunder took successful when All-Star ahead Kevin Durant departed as a free agent in July 2016. Quickly thereafter, Westbrook agreed to a contract extension by way of 2018-19, the ultimate season being a participant choice.

The brief-time period deal created flexibility for Oklahoma Metropolis so as to add elements — therefore the strikes to land George and Anthony — in hopes of engaging Westbrook to stay with the franchise.

Westbrook, the No. four general decide in 2008, outdistanced Houston’s James Harden to win MVP honors.